Current Info for Observer
as of 04/18/2024 2:12 a.m.
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General Info
| Type | Diffuse Nebula |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 18h3'41.200'' |
| Declination | -24°23'49'' |
| Magnitude | 6 |
| Distance | 5,200ly |
| Size | 90 arc min |
| Catalog Designations | NGC6523, M8 |
| Discovered | 1749 Guillaume Legentil |
Generate a finder chart
The following form will generate a PDF finder chart suitable for printing using to locate objects in the sky with your telescope!
The Date is only really useful for solar system objects, as deep space objects move measurably only on a galactic timescale.
The larger the F.O.V (field of view), the more "zoomed out" the object will appear. It can be helpful to print several charts of the same object with different field of views.
Limiting the magnitude (remember, lower magnitude means brighter!) of stars and objects can make sure your chart is not cluttered with dim objects that you may not be visible to you anyway. The defaults are good, but try experimenting with raising and lowering the values.
Austin (5562)
LCOGT 1Meter Scope - Sinistro
20 points
The Lagoon nebula has always evaded me. I think it is too faint/diffuse for smaller scopes. Good thing I had a huge telescope with a guidance system.
Large nebula with visible dust lanes. Could almost pick out some features near the center of the FOV.
bllape (1611)
Orion XT8
20 points
small smudge in the west of my view. could not find until the sky was very very dark.
cyc66 (2891)
Celestron Omni XLT 150
20 points
Only looked with camera, forgot to look through scope. I will have to find it again.
Exoplanet1 (1645)
4.5in starblast
20 points
First viewed with my 10x50. The nebulosity is easier viewed with binoculars although hints of nebulosity are visible in the telescope. The embedded cluster is also nice.
HamilTiller (5560)
Celestron 127eq
20 points
Armed with finder charts and loads of notes, I took an extended look at some of the wonders of Sagittarius. The trouble isn't finding objects- just pointing my scope in the general direction is sufficient- it's identifying what I'm looking at. There's just too much there. I stumbled a cross a couple of globulars that I still can't identify, and the charts aren't helping me much.
Luckily, the Lagoon Nebula is big and bright and beautiful and I knew exactly what it was as soon as I saw it. I could make out wisps and the new stars within it are gorgeous. I'll definitely be revisiting it often.
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